October 16, 2019 Playlist

"Let It Be" by The Replacements (1984)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
The Replacements "Let It Be"  1984 (USA) 
The Replacements were a unique and legendary band from the 80's American underground scene, but I think the reason they haven't had a CAOTW yet is that they never really made a "classic" album. The Mats were a notoriously inebriated and unreliable group whose motto was "all for nothing, nothing for all." They made a ton of great songs, but also recorded their share of lazy punk rock bar band tunes: "Gary's Got A Boner" is probably the biggest dud on Let It Be. The other mediocrity "Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out" at least has funny lyrics and is performed with plenty of drunk rock energy (and their version of KISS's "Black Diamond" is actually awesome!) That's as good a ratio as you'll get from this band, and the "hits" on this record include some of Paul Westerberg's greatest compositions like "Sixteen Blue", "Unsatisfied", and his near-solo performances of "Androgynous" and "Answering Machine". Back in the 1980's Bruce Springsteen was seen as the "people's poet" who portrayed the "realistic" hopes and dreams of the Working Man in America, but really his songs are second-rate Woody Guthrie wannabe BS (the working class romanticized from a distance by a multimillionaire). Westerberg sounds more like the real deal: a lonely drunk on a barstool wondering where the hell it all went wrong, and with a voice that sounds like that's all he would have ever been if he didn't have a knack for classic songwriting.
(N) = New Release
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
Nina Hagen BandHerrmann Hiess Er ("Herrmann Was His Name")Unbehagen ("Discomfort")1979Germany
The SlitsTypical GirlsCut1979UK
Sleater-Kinney Can I Go OnThe Center Won't Hold (N)2019 (Mom + Pop)USA
Kim Gordon Murdered OutNo Home Record (N)2019 (Matador)USA
Poppy I DisagreeI Disagree (N - forthcoming album)2019 (Sumerian)USA
BABYMETAL Kagerou ("Heat Haze")Metal Galaxy (N)2019 (Toy's Factory)Japan
 
 
Iggy Pop Glow In The DarkFree (N)2019 (Caroline)USA
Santana BatongaAfrica Speaks (N)2019 (Concord)USA/Mexico
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets My Friend's A LiquidAnd Now For The Whatchamacallit (N)2019 (Marathon)Australia
The Babe Rainbow Funky I Like ItToday (N)2019 (Flightless)Australia
Moon Duo Fever NightStars Are The Light (N)2019 (Sacred Bones)USA
   
 
The ReplacementsI Will DareLet It Be
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1984USA
The ReplacementsSixteen BlueLet It Be
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1984USA
The ReplacementsAndrogynousLet It Be
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1984USA
The Replacements Talent ShowDead Man's Pop (N)rec. 1989 (2019 Rhino/Warner)USA
Husker DuEight Miles High (The Byrds)7" single1984USA
CowsSugar TorchSexy Pee Story1993USA
Prince & The RevolutionTake Me With UPurple Rain1984USA
   
 
Pere Ubu30 Seconds Over TokyoTerminal Tower (compilation of early tracks)rec. 1975USA
Mission Of BurmaHeart Of Darkness (Pere Ubu - live)The Horrible Truth About Burma1985USA
FlipperLifeGeneric Album1981USA
Urge OverkillStull, pt. 1Stull EP1992USA
Jane's AddictionObviousRitual De Lo Habitual1990USA
Yellow Magic OrchestraPure JamTechnodelic1981Japan
Magical Power MakoJump Yo YouJump1977Japan
   
 
Yonin-Bayashi ("Four Man Band")Buen Dia (CD reissue bonus track)Ishoku-Sokuhatsu ("Touch Promptly")1974Japan
Hiro YanagidaHappy CruiseHirocosmos1973Japan
Akira Ishikawa & Count BuffaloesWanyama Na Mapambazuko ("Animals And Dawn")Uganda1972Japan
Kuni Kawachi & Friends (Flower Travellin' Band)Time MachineKirikyogen ("Misrepresentation")1970Japan
   
 
Stomu Yamashita & Come To The EdgeKeep In LaneFloating Music1972Japan/UK
      
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